amazon spheres, the mini rainforest campus in seattle by NBBJ

NBBJ is a global architecture and design firm, which was founded in 1943. the practice currently has locations in beijing, boston, columbus, hong kong, london, los angeles, new york, pune, san francisco, seattle and shanghai. its global network of 'renaissance teams' includes more than 700 researchers, strategists, nurses, architects, anthropologists, planners, and interior designers.

a $4 billion downtown seattleoffice project from amazon is now open, revealing a mini rainforest – dubbed the amazon spheres – contained within three biosphere domes. dubbed ‘the spheres’, the glass orbs have no enclosed offices, conference spaces, or desks, and will be a place for amazon workers to escape from the drudges of everyday office life. employees can meet in tree houses suspended under towering trees or walk along stone paths beside waterfalls decorated with some 400 species of plants.

image courtesy of NBJJ

following seven years of planning, at an unveiling event today amazon CEO jeff bezos took to the podium to introduce the firm’s new seattle spheres office space. the HQ comprises of three steel-framed, glass-enclosed spheres – the tallest of which is 90 feet tall and 130 feet in diameter, bloomberg news reported. they are home to more than 40,000 plants from around the world creating a tropical-like environment and botanical immersion amongst the urban seattle landscape.

image via bloomberg photo credit: mike kane/bloomberg

as well as tree house meeting rooms, rivers and waterfalls, across the three biospheres main features include a four-story living wall, paludariums and epiphytic trees. the climate of the mini-rainforest will be controlled, being held at a constant 72 degrees while the humidiity will be 60%. there is even a ventilation system that simulates an outdoor breeze. the spheres are a result of amazon’s studies into the improvement of office spaces by linking them to nature.

all other images courtesy of amazon via seattlespheres.com

‘our goal with the spheres was to create a unique gathering place where employees could collaborate and innovate together, and where the Seattle community could gather to experience biodiversity in the center of the city,’ said john schoettler, amazon vice president of global real estate and facilities. ‘I am very proud and thankful to the entire team who made the spheres a reality – they did a terrific job from the design all the way to the finishing touches. we are thrilled to officially open the doors.’

said to have created more than 600 full-time jobs, the project will also provide educational opportunities to the seattle community through tours, field trips and partnerships with local schools and universities. the project has been designed by international firm NBBJas reported by designboom during the application process 3 years ago, also responsible for amazon’s HQ1, which is also in seattle.

“said to have created more than 600 full-time jobs” Amazon has made Seattle unlivable for non-tech workers. Those 600 jobs have eradicated 1,200 jobs and contribute to a staggering increase in our cost of living. Disruptors disrupt lives in their quest for innovation. Where do we go now?

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